Harlandale teacher's fate in leader's hands

Updated 9:32 am, Tuesday, October 23, 2012

A few dozen supporters who turned out at Harlandale's board meeting left in tears and disappointment Monday night when the board declined to decide whether a teacher would be reinstated after some administrators deemed a photo of her on Facebook inappropriate.

Cassandra Rios, a teacher, coach and dance sponsor at McCollum High School, has been on leave since July 26, after her bosses voiced concern over a photo on her Facebook profile that she was tagged in of her eating with students at Dick's Last Resort.

The board decided, without a vote, late Monday to defer Rios' employment to interim Superintendent Rey Madrigal to make the decision, which could come as soon as today. Trustees said that they didn't want to micromanage Madrigal and said this was something he should decide.

“Obviously the parents and students want to know what this means,” trustee Velma Ybarra said as the crowd struggled to understand the board's explanation. “We, as a board, have heard your concerns. At this point, it is in the superintendent's hands.”

Some supporters grumbled at the board and other students burst into tears.

District officials have declined to elaborate on why Rios' behavior merited the action, calling it a personnel issue. The incident involved a picture of Rios taken at Dick's Last Resort in June with some graduating seniors on the McCollum Gold Star Dance Team, district spokeswoman Leslie Garza said.

One of the seniors in the photo, Jasmine Lopez, sent the San Antonio Express-News the photo in question, which shows a group of young women wearing hats scribbled with risqué jokes that Dick's staffers wrote on them, which is commonly done to patrons at the restaurant on the River Walk. Lopez said no one drank alcohol at the table.

About 35 people showed up at Monday's meeting to support Rios; many wore black T-shirts with the phrase “Justice for Rios” and “Fear Not #Team Rios” in pink on the back. They assembled to pray before the board voted on Rios' employment.

Five people spoke to the board in support of Rios, including parents of the students in the photo and the students themselves, telling the board the administration overreacted, lauding Rios' character and asking that she be reinstated.

“We trust her with our kids as parents,” said Linda Balan, a parent whose daughter is on the dance team. “The measure of disciplinary action should be commensurate with the offense. We are just asking for fair treatment.”

Rios, 27, has worked for Harlandale for five years and helped lead the dance team to win a national championship last year.